Brake for invalid&#39;s chair



2 Sheets-Sheet -1 G. A. SILL BRAKE FOR INVALIDS CHAIR Feb. 26, 1.957

Filed May 7, 1955.

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United States PatentO le@ 2,782,870

Patented Feb. 26, 1957 BRAKE FOR INVALIDS CHAIR George A. Sill, Elgin, Ill., assignor to The Sta-Firm Chair Corporation, Elgin, Ill., a corporation of illinois Application May 7, 1953, serial No. 355,538

3 Claims. (Cl. 18S-2) My invention lrelates to improvements in invalids wheel chairs.

My invention relates more particularly to wheel chairs of the type which are moved about from place to place by the occupant and which are usually provided with means for braking or locking the chair against movement at any desired time.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved invalids wheel chair having a handoperated locking device or brake capable of locking the chair against movement when applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide the combination with an invalids wheel chair of an improved brake or locking device capable of operation from either side of the chair to grip upon one or both of the wheels of the chair and hold the same firmly against movement with a minimum effort on the part of the occupant.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved brake or lock-ing device of the type described capable of attachment to either a non-folding or folding type of Wheel chair, and capable of attachment to either the right or the left side of the chair, or to both if desired.

A further object of the invention is to make a locking device or brake of the type described that is easily operated yand one which oan be used for a long time without becoming broken or out of order.

A further object of the invention is to make a locking device or brake of the type described capable of attachment to standard wheel chairs which are at present on the market.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, upon which Fig. l isa front perspective View of a folding wheel chair to which my improved locking device or brake has been attached;

Fig. 2 is la fragmentary perspective view from the left of Fig. l, showing the locking device or braking mechanism as applied to the tire of one of the wheels of the chair;

Fig. 3 is a plan Isectional view showing the manner in which the locking device is attached to the chair, and is taken generally on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the locking device with parts of the handle land the upright of the chair broken into section.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate and describe the same, I have shown generally an invalids or crippled persons wheel chair which may comprise the seat 10, the back 12, a pair of arm rests 14 and 16, and a pair of foot rests 18 and 20.

The supporting frame of the chair may include similar side frame assemblies connected together as will presently be described, so that whenever Idesired the chair may be folded into a relatively small, compact position, yet when in use be firm and sturdy. Each side frame assembly may include a vertical post 22 which is welded or otherwise xedly secured at its lower end to a horizontally disposed 2 tubular member 24. The upper end of each of the posts 22 is fastened in any suitable manner to the back of a hinged section 12u of the back 12 of the chair, the sections 12a being hinged along a vertical line generally centrally of the chair. v

The side frame assembly may 4also include an L-shaped seat support member 26 which has a horizontal leg 28 that is welded or otherwise connected to the vertical post 22 and extends forwardly and downwardly through the horizontal post 24 to receive a universally mounted bracket 29 that carries 'a rubber tired roller or caster 30.

A second inverted L-shaped brace or support member 32 may have its upper leg 34 connected by welding or otherwise to the post 22 directly below the back 12 of the chair, the long leg 36 of the same extending downwardly and being welded or otherwise secured to the forward end of the horizontal brace 24 and having a forwardly extending portion 38 which carries the foot board 18. 'Phe foot boards 18 and 20 are rotatably mounted upon the forward portion 38 of the brace 36 so that the same can be swung upwardly to a vertical position to permit both collapsing of the chair and ingress or egress from the same by a patient.

Each of the vertical posts 22 carries a stub shaft upon which one of the supporting wheels W is mounted, the chair generally being supported upon the large Wheels W, and the forward end of the same being supported upon the universally mounted casters or rollers 30.

Means for collapsing or folding the chair have been provided. This construction is more clearly shown in my co-pending application for patent on improvements in lnvalids Collapsible Chair, filed June 26, 1952, and bearing Serial No. 295,780, now abandoned. The scat 10, like the back 12 may be formed of two sections 10a and 10b connected together by a hinge member medially through the length of the same. The outside ends of the seat sections 10a and 10b are connected over the horizontal leg 28 of the brace 26 by means of brackets 40, so that when the chair is folded the seat and the back will ldivide medially and swing about their joining hinges to collapse the sections back against each other.

Means for connecting the frame members 24 together may include the brackets and 82 rotatably mounted upon a reduced portion of the horizontal brace 24. The brackets 80 may each have a rod 84 extending to the center of the chair where they are pivotally connected to a cross rod 86. ln a similar manner the brackets 82 may have a rod 88 extending inwardly to connect to the other end of the cross rod 86.

The cross rod S5 is T-shaped and has an upright portion 90 which extends upwardly and is connected to the pivot pin of the seat hinge. A pair of brackets 92 positioned medially of the brackets S0 and 82 have diagonally directed braces 94 extending inwardly and upwardly to a sliding yoke 96 which is 'mounted upon the member 9d. With this construction, when it is desired to collapse the chair the seat and the back fold outwardly from their hinges, the seat hinge carrying the rod 90 upwardly and the side frame members 24 are thus drawn together to a folded or collapsed position, as more clearly shown and described in my previously mentioned co-pending application.

The improved brake mechanism which I provide in connection with a chair of this type may include a clamp member i which is in the form of a metal strap having a U-shaped portion 102 which surrounds the upright frame member 26 with a portion 104 extending forwardly past the forward vertical leg 36 of the frame member 32. The clamp has a portion 186 extending rearwardly from the front of the chair and terminating in a right angle leg portion 103. The clamp is adapted to be fastened to the upright 26 by means of a bolt member 110 providedatone end acap nut 112. The bolt 110 also carries a spacer 114 which has a reduced shank 116 that extends through an operating handle 113 which is fastened on the same yby means of the bolt "119; handle 118 hasja `pivot pin 120 below the bolt '116 to which an operating lever Y1,22 is connected. The lever' is adapted to pass through an opening -124in vthe `arm 108 of the clamp 100, being slidably 'mounted therein and guided thereby.

The lever 122 carries a boss 126 fastened tothe side of the same, the boss l126 having van opening 138 therethrough to receive a rod member 130. An arcuately shaped brake shoe 132 may be attached to the rearward end of the rod 130 with a coiled compression vspring 134 positioned 4between the brake shoey 41322 and the boss 126.

With this Construction, when it is d esired to `either slow downv the rotation f one or both of the wheels W of the chair, the handle 11S is moved'forward about its pivot, the, bolt `110, Yand the lever 122 carries the brake, shoe 132 into Contact with the periphery of the wheel W.A If itis desired to lock the Wheel against rotation,V the handle V118 is pushed forward to a horizontal position. Thi'sfresults in pressing the brake shoe 132 against the wheel W in a rm holding position, the shoe 132 being yicldingly movable with the rod 12S against the strong coiled compression spring 134. In this position the edge of the lever 122 is resting against stop shoulder 123 in the slot 125 in the end of handle 11S. In the inoperative or non-braking position (Fig. 4) the handle 118 rests in an upright position with lever 122 against the stop shoulder 127 of the slot 12S.

From the above and foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided a highly eective yet comparatively simple locking device or brake means for either a collapsible or non-collapsible wheel chair. The brake assembly may be installed as a unit in a comparatively easy manner by attaching the strap portion around the upright 26 and fastening the bolt member 110 through one of the upright braces 36. The locking device or brake 'unit may be employed on either the right or the left Iside of the wheel `chair, or upon both sides if desired.

While Iv have illustrated and described a specic embodiment'of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled, in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown, and I do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A brake device for a wheel chair of the type having a pair of side frames, a seat, a back and a pair of large side support wheels, said device including a clamp member, a bolt for fastening said clamp member to one of said side frames, said clamp member having a leg extending toward one of said support wheels, said leg ha ing: an end bent transversely thereto, an operating handle mounted on said bolt, a lever pivotally connected thereto below said bolt, an opening in the transverse end of said leg member, said lever extending therethrough, a lug carried on the side of said lever, said lug having an opening therethrough, a rod reciprocably movable through said opening, a brake shoe connected to one end of the same and a coiled spring on said rod between one side of said lug and said brake shoe.

2. A brake device for a wheel chair of the type having a pair of side frames, a seat, a back and a pair of large side support wheels, said device including a'clamp mernl ber, a bolt for fastening said clamp member to one. of said side frames, said clamp member having a leg extending toward one of said support wheels, said leg having an end bent transversely thereto, an operating handle mounted on said bolt, a lever pivotally connected thereto below said bolt, an opening in the transverse end of said leg member, said lever extending therethrough, a lug carried on the side of said lever, said lug having an opening therethrough, a rod reciprocably movable through said opening, a brake shoe connected lto one end of fthe same and a coiled spring on ,said rod between one side of said lug and said brake shoe, and stop means between saidlever and said handle for holding the same in operative or inoperative position.

3. A locking or braking device for a collapsible wheel chair of the type having a pair of side frames, a medial hinged seat and back and a pair of large side support wheels, said device including a generally U-shaped horizontally disposed clamp member attached to one of the side frame members and extending back therefrom and having a transverse leg, a vertically disposed brake shoe aligned with the periphery of one of said support wheels, a lever attached to said brake shoe for moving the same back and forth in a horizontal plane against or away from said. wheel, said brake shoe yieldingly connected to said lever, a pivoted operating handle for moving said lever, a bolt through one of said side frames, said bolt fastening said clamp member to said side frame andforming a pivot for said operating handle, said lever operatively connected to said handle below said bolt, said handle normally upright and adapted to be moved forwardly to move said brake shoe against said support wheel, the transverse leg of said clamp member having.

anV opening therethrough, and said lever extending through said opening and guided therein.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED' S'I-ATES` PATENTS 422,245 Miller et a1. Feb. 25, 1890 2,421,328 Herold May 27, 1947 2,621,711 Leslie et al. Dec. 16, 1952 2,701,005 Bennett et al. Feb. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 243,292 Great Britain Nov. 26,' 19425 625,452 vGreat Britain June 28, 1949*' 

